Recap

Sunderland Edge Crystal Palace 2-1 in Thrilling Comeback at Stadium of Light

Sunderland secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League on January 17, 2026, at the Stadium of Light, extending their unbeaten home run to 11 games.

The Black Cats came from behind to claim the three points, with Enzo Le Fée equalizing shortly after Palace’s opener and Brian Brobbey smashing in the winner in the 71st minute.

First Half: Palace Strike First, Sunderland Respond Swiftly

Crystal Palace started brightly but found themselves ahead after 30 minutes when Yeremy Pino curled a stunning finish into the top corner, giving Oliver Glasner’s side a deserved lead amid a tough week for the club.

The visitors’ joy was short-lived, as just three minutes later, Sunderland leveled through Enzo Le Fée. Granit Xhaka, playing a pivotal role in midfield, picked out Nordi Mukiele charging down the right flank. Mukiele delivered a precise low cross into the box, where Le Fée arrived unmarked to fire coolly into the bottom corner.

The goal shifted momentum, and Palace nearly regained their advantage soon after. Jean-Philippe Mateta whipped in a brilliant cross for Tyrick Mitchell, whose powerful header flashed just past the post. At the other end, Sunderland keeper Dean Henderson was alert to collect a Dan Ballard header.

In first-half stoppage time, Mateta thought he had restored Palace’s lead with a fierce strike, but the goal was chalked off for offside, keeping the score locked at 1-1 heading into the break.

Second Half: Sunderland Dominate and Brobbey Delivers the Decisive Blow

Sunderland emerged stronger after the interval, controlling possession and creating chances. Early in the second half, Pino curled a free-kick over the bar, while Henderson dove to palm away Aaron Hume’s header as both teams traded opportunities.

The game grew scrappy around the hour mark, with three yellow cards shown in quick succession—Dan Ballard for Sunderland at 73′, among others.

The hosts’ pressure paid off in the 71st minute. Noah Sadiki threaded a perfect through ball to Brian Brobbey, who unleashed a brilliant right-footed strike with the outside of his boot. The ball smashed off the underside of the crossbar and into the net for his fourth Premier League goal of the season, putting Sunderland 2-1 up.

Brobbey nearly turned provider moments later, stabbing the ball to Hume, but Henderson produced a stunning one-handed save to deny the Northern Ireland international.

Palace pushed for an equalizer, with Roefs punching away Pino’s corner. In the dying moments, Henderson was heroic again, making two excellent stops to thwart Eliezer Mayenda and Ballard in the 90th minute.

The second half ended at 93′, with Granit Xhaka winning a free kick to seal Sunderland’s gritty win.

Key Performers and Tactical Insights

Brian Brobbey was the match-winner, his clinical finish proving decisive and highlighting his growing threat in the Sunderland attack—now with four goals in the league.

Enzo Le Fée impressed with his timely equalizer, showcasing composure under pressure, while Granit Xhaka dictated play from midfield, assisting the leveler and winning crucial free kicks late on.

For Palace, Yeremy Pino opened the scoring with a moment of class, and Jean-Philippe Mateta posed problems upfront despite the offside disallowance.

Sunderland’s second-half dominance—bolstered by Nordi Mukiele’s threat down the right—overwhelmed Palace, who couldn’t convert their early promise. The Black Cats’ home form remains formidable, unbeaten in 11 Premier League games at the Stadium of Light.

Post-Match Implications for Both Sides

This result moves Sunderland to 30 points from 21 matches (7 wins, 9 draws, 5 losses), keeping them in contention mid-table and just ahead of Palace on 28 points (7 wins, 7 draws, 7 losses).

For Crystal Palace, the defeat caps a difficult week, compounded by manager Oliver Glasner’s confirmed departure at season’s end. They’ve now lost only one of the last six meetings with Sunderland but struggled to sustain their first-half momentum.

Sunderland’s comeback win—described as hosts earning a vital three points—reinforces their resilience, with Brobbey’s brilliance returning them to winning ways.

Broader League Context

In the Premier League table, Arsenal leads with 49 points from 21 games, followed by Manchester City with 43 points from 22 matches. Mid-table rivals are tightly packed, with Sunderland’s win providing a boost in this congested standings battle, while Palace must regroup without their manager long-term.

Highlights showcased Brobbey’s “wonderful finish” as the pivotal moment, encapsulating Sunderland’s fighting spirit at the Stadium of Light.

This 2-1 thriller exemplifies Premier League intensity, with Sunderland’s depth and home advantage shining through against a Palace side in transition.